Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Mosul Campaign Day 113, Feb 6, 2017

Events in Mosul took two strange turns. First, in north
Mosul the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) left out a number of Islamic State corpses
by a main road. Hunting down IS sleeper cells and members that slipped into the
general population is a major concern of the government. The bodies were
supposed to deter Islamic State members in the district by warning them about
what will happen to them. More importantly, in the east side some soldiers from
the Golden Division stopped
a unit from the National Security Service (NSS) from searching some houses in
Nur citing sectarian abuses. This led to an argument and gunfire leading to one
NSS officer being killed and one wounded. There have been some reports of
looting and harassing of civilians in east Mosul by the ISF. While the Golden
Division is the country’s premier force, not all the ISF are as professional.
That probably explained the unfortunate clash that happened in Nur.

In anticipation of the coming battle for west Mosul, the
Joint Operations Command announced that it would not let the media be at the
frontlines. The government has become more restrictive as the campaign has
progressed. In December 2016 for example it banned
embedded reporters with the ISF. It seems it is continuing to tighten up
access. That is an attempt to make the official line the only one available to
the public.

Drones are becoming an increasing part of the fight against
the Islamic State. They are being used by the insurgents to not only drop
explosives, but as surveillance and spotting devices for mortar and rocket fire,
and guides for suicide bombers. IS for example, just released
a video of its drone attacks inside Mosul. As a result the ISF asked the U.S.
led Coalition to help counter them, and anti-drone devices have been sent.

The flow of people in and out of Mosul continued, and they
were still facing difficulties. A total of 161,886 people have been displaced
from Ninewa since the battle started in mid-October. From February 2-3 the
United Nations reported that 1,070 people fled Mosul due to mortar fire, but
there was also a lack of food and water. At the same time 737 civilians
returned to the city and surrounding villages over those same two days. Many
were leaving to look for work. A problem for those going back was the
proliferation of IEDs and mines left behind by the insurgents. The Express
talked with a family that went back to their village just outside of Mosul who
had their son killed by an IED. It’s believed that there are thousands of
unexploded devices throughout the province. A British agency Mines Advisory
Group is working to disarm them. It will likely take more than year if not more
to get rid of all of them.

Finally, the Ninewa council is attempting to return health
services to Mosul. A member of the council let it be known that a hospital re-opened on
February 4. There are also 12 health clinics operating. The councilman claimed
that they were all supplied, but other reports have questioned that due to the
extreme caseload each one is facing.

IRAQ HISTORY TIMELINE

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About Me

Musings On Iraq was started in 2008 to explain the political, economic, security and cultural situation in Iraq via original articles and interviews. If you wish to contact me personally my email is: motown67@aol.com